Luca Zenti and Rebekah Tiler were named Aviva male and female athletes of the match during the West Yorkshire Sportshall Athletics under-13 and under-15 trials at the Richard Dunn Sports Centre.

On a day when eight long-standing records were broken (five track, three field), Parkside School’s Zenti cracked three of them at under-13 boys’ level.

He set a new six-lap best with 1min 24.1sec, an obstacle race time trial record of 22.3sec and broke the speed bounce record with 85.

Bingley Grammar School’s Tiler was not far behind in the record stakes at under-13 girls’ level, setting new bests in the standing long jump with a leap of 2.44 metres and the vertical jump with 67cm.

In the one-lap time trial, the existing under-13 boys’ record of 12.4sec was equalled by Woodhouse Grove duo Elliott Turner and Kia Rika-Rayne and Jermaine Ramsden (Beckfoot).

In the under-15 boys, Leon Greenwood (Spen Valley Sports College) set a two-lap record time of 22.7sec, while in the under-15 girls, Kate Wasiliw (Halifax) broke the equivalent record in 24.02sec.

Over 160 boys and girls from all over West Yorkshire competed to gain selection for their teams to go to the Yorkshire regional finals in Halifax on Sunday, March 6.

The teams have been selected on an all-round basis as in the regional competition each athlete has to compete in three categories of events.

This means that some athletes who might have won individual events at the trials have not shown the all-round ability to fill the team places, so may be disappointed.

The athletes taking part were from all areas of West Yorkshire – Leeds, Bradford, Huddersfield, Halifax and Wakefield – and with numbers up on last year, the teams selected look strong and capable of progressing to the UK finals.

It seems encouraging that under-15 numbers have improved but there is room for more taking part in athletics at club and school level in the West Yorkshire area.

If there are any 12, 13, 14 or 15-year-olds available to take part in athletics events, whether this be sportshall athletics, track and field, cross-country or fell racing, call Alan or Christine Oates on 01274-416286 and they can point you to the nearest club.

Training with an athletics club does include the coaching and conditioning to improve for competitions, which can be local or county, north of England or national.

Athletics does have something for everyone, whether it is long distance, short sprints, jumps, throws or a combination. It caters for all ages from around eight and for all abilities who aim to improve their own performance.

RESULTS – Under-15 boys, two-lap: Leon Greenwood (Spen Valley Sports College) 22.7sec. Four-lap: Jonathan Stott (Dixons Academy) 53.00sec. Standing long jump: Leon Greenwood (Spen Valley Sports College) 2.68m. Standing triple jump: Edward Saxton (Holmforth High School) 8.22m. Speed bounce: Jonathan Stott (Dixons Academy) 76. Shot: Dean Hall (Wetherby High School) 9.45m.

Under-15 girls, two-lap: Kate Wasyliw (Halifax) 24.02sec. Four-lap: Caroline Johnson (Crossley Heath) 55.7sec. Standing long jump: Lydia McQuiston (Hanson) 2.41m. Vertical jump: Lydia McQuiston (Hanson) 57cm. Speed bounce: Chloe Tindale (St Mary’s) 86. Shot: Bethany Thomas (Cockburn High) 9.92m.

Under-13 boys, two lap: Elliott Turner (Woodhouse Grove) 24.7sec. Four lap: Callum Hamilton (Salendine Nook) 57.05sec. Six lap: Luca Zenti (Parkside) 1min 24.1sec. Standing long jump: Christopher Johnson (Holy Family) 2.20m. Standing triple jump: Tobi Adeniji (Stocks Lane Primary) 6.98m. Vertical jump: Liam Harriott (King James Huddersfield) 58cm. Speed bounce: Luca Zenti (Parkside) 85. Shot: Elliott Turner (Woodhouse Grove) 9.98m. High jump: Tobi Adeniji (Stocks Lane Primary) 1.40m. One-lap time trial: Elliott Turner and Kia Rika-Raine (Woodhouse Grove) and Jermain Ramsden (Beckfoot) 12.4sec. Obstacle time trial: Luca Zenti (Parkside) 22.3sec.

Under-13 girls, two-lap: Rebekah Tiler (Bingley Grammar School) 25.4sec. Four-lap: Amy Pollard (Bingley Grammar School) 57.8sec. Six lap: Natalie McGuire (Netherhall Campus) 1min 33.3sec. Standing long jump: Rebekah Tiler (Bingley Grammar School) 2.44m. Standing triple jump: Ambah Thompson (Stocks Lane Primary) 6.21m. Vertical jump: Rebekah Tiler (Bingley Grammar School) 67cm. Speed bounce: Jo Gibson (Scissett Middle) 82. Shot: Jessica Hirst (Colne Valley High) 8.44m. High jump: Vikki Adams (Leeds) 1.43m. One-lap time trial: Ambah Thompson (Stocks Lane Primary) 13.1sec. Obstacle time trial: Keavy Ward (Mirfield Free Grammar School) 23.4sec.